Antimicrobial film laminate assemblies and methods of using and manufacturing the same

Abstract

An antimicrobial film laminate assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an antimicrobial film laminate having a first surface at least partially coated with an adhesive and an opposing second surface, the antimicrobial film laminate includes at least one antimicrobial compound, and a unitary backing positioned upon the first surface of the antimicrobial film laminate.

1 . An antimicrobial film laminate assembly, the assembly comprising:
 an antimicrobial film laminate having a first surface at least partially coated with an adhesive and an opposing second surface, said antimicrobial film laminate comprising at least one antimicrobial compound; and   a unitary backing positioned upon the first surface of the antimicrobial film laminate.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial film laminate assembly comprises at least one tab. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary backing is cut to form at least one placement strip and at least one main strip, and wherein the at least one tab is positioned at the at least one placement strip. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tab comprises two tabs. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the two tabs are configured about the antimicrobial film laminate assembly at or near relative ends of the antimicrobial film laminate assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the two tabs are configured about the antimicrobial film laminate assembly at or near the relative middle of the antimicrobial film laminate assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive is deadened at the at least one tab. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein no adhesive is present upon the first surface at the at least one tab. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary backing is cut to form at least one placement strip and at least one main strip. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is capable of causing the antimicrobial film laminate to either permanently or removably adhere to one or more targeted surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial compound comprises a silver ion antimicrobial compound. 
     
     
         12 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial film laminate is placed onto a roll or is rolled into a rolled configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the antimicrobial film laminate assembly has indicia and/or a color imprinted thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial film laminate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, high impact polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and paper. 
     
     
         15 . The antimicrobial film laminate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial film laminate is selected from the group consisting of a transparent antimicrobial film laminate, a translucent antimicrobial film laminate, and an opaque antimicrobial film laminate. 
     
     
         16 . A method for affixing an antimicrobial film laminate to a targeted surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 removing a placement strip from an antimicrobial film laminate to expose an adhesive surface;   aligning the antimicrobial film laminate with a targeted surface;   applying a force to an opposite side of the antimicrobial film laminate so that the adhesive surface of the antimicrobial film laminate is affixed to the targeted surface where the placement strip has been removed;   removing a first main strip from the antimicrobial film laminate to expose more adhesive surface; and   applying a force to an opposite side of the antimicrobial film laminate so that the adhesive surface of the antimicrobial film laminate where the first main strip has been removed is affixed to the targeted surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 repeating each aforementioned step with a second antimicrobial film laminate, wherein the second antimicrobial film laminate is affixed upon the original antimicrobial film laminate.   
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing an antimicrobial film laminate assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 impregnating and/or coating a laminate with an antimicrobial compound;   applying an adhesive to a first surface of the laminate; and either
 (a) removing at least part of the adhesive from the first surface of the laminate; or 
 (b) deadening at least part of the adhesive from the first surface of the laminate. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the step of removing at least part of the adhesive, and wherein said step is performed by removing the adhesive using one or more chemicals capable of removing adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the step of deadening at least part of the adhesive, and wherein said step is performed by deadening the adhesive using one or more chemicals capable of deadening adhesive to minimize or eliminate adhesive tack.